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A Bourdieusian Exploration of Ethnic Inequalities at Work: The Case of the Nigerian Banking Sector

Author

Listed:
  • Chidozie Umeh

    (University of York, UK)

  • Nelarine Cornelius

    (Queen Mary University of London, UK)

  • James Wallace

    (University of Hertfordshire, UK)

Abstract

This article draws on Pierre Bourdieu’s critical sociology to explore the socio-political processes through which social resources or capital are sought and ethnic inequalities negotiated, legitimated and enforced in a postcolonial work context. Applying Bourdieusian analysis to data from interviews and vignettes in the Nigerian banking sector, the constructs ‘ethnicised identity’ and ‘symbolic identity’ are developed to show how employees across ethnic divides and work hierarchies use symbolic ethnic markers to negotiate benefits and enforce control as a status-independent capital. Realising diversity management goals in multiethnic workplaces may, therefore, require refocusing initiatives from racial to ethnic inequalities and, consequently, from inter-group inequalities (ethnic membership) to intra-group discriminations (ethnic affiliation). This research suggests that a more nuanced, contextually sensitive perspective is necessary to address workplace inequalities linked to ethnic diversity in organisations with indigenous multiethnicities.

Suggested Citation

  • Chidozie Umeh & Nelarine Cornelius & James Wallace, 2024. "A Bourdieusian Exploration of Ethnic Inequalities at Work: The Case of the Nigerian Banking Sector," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 38(4), pages 885-910, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:woemps:v:38:y:2024:i:4:p:885-910
    DOI: 10.1177/09500170231173604
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Henry Inegbedion & Eze Sunday & Abiola Asaleye & Adedoyin Lawal & Ayeni Adebanji, 2020. "Managing Diversity for Organizational Efficiency," SAGE Open, , vol. 10(1), pages 21582440199, January.
    2. Natalia Levina & Manuel Arriaga, 2014. "Distinction and Status Production on User-Generated Content Platforms: Using Bourdieu’s Theory of Cultural Production to Understand Social Dynamics in Online Fields," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 25(3), pages 468-488, September.
    3. Kristensen, Nicolai & Johansson, Edvard, 2008. "New evidence on cross-country differences in job satisfaction using anchoring vignettes," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 15(1), pages 96-117, February.
    4. Anthonia T. Odeleye, 2014. "Pre-Consolidation and Post-Consolidation of Nigerian Banking Sector: A Dynamic Comparison," International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, Econjournals, vol. 4(1), pages 27-34.
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